Passport control

Source: DailyVoice-Genevieve Serra, 13/04/2018

A Pakistani national has opened a case with police after a fellow
countryman allegedly stole R70 000 from him, after promising to get
him a visa and passport for his brother.
Syed Jafry, 40, of Woodstock, admits he tried to smokkel his brother
into Cape Town through a contact.
But the businessman says after hassling his contact to get his money
back, the man started sending him death threats.
He now wants to lift the lid on a “syndicate” who scammed him out of
R70k, after his brother was blocked in Qatar, in transit, by
officials who spotted the fake documents.
Syed says the man, whose name is known to the Daily Voice, was
supposed to “secure” him a visa, passport and working permit for his
brother, Arslan Jafry, who is still living in Pakistan.
Syed has been living in Cape Town for 12 years and owns a cellphone
repair shop in the CBD.
He says he received the travel documents from the man last year, and
sent them on to his brother in Pakistan.
But when his brother showed the papers to officials in Qatar, they
said the documents were fake and sent him packing back to Pakistan.
Syed claims his contact is part of a syndicate making fake documents
and selling them to foreign nationals at steep prices.
Following more death threats, he laid a charge against the man in
March.
He says the man is a business partner of his friend.
“They buy cars from the auction and sell it again,” he explains.
“He said he helps people with visas, passports, birth certificates
and working visas. The documents would even have the stamps on it.
“I paid him R70 000 because my brother, Arslan, was coming from
Pakistan and needed the documents to work here. I wanted a visa,
passport and a working visa.
“But when my brother came to Qatar, they said his working visa was
fake and he had to pay a penalty over there and was sent back to
Pakistan.
He says after insisting that he pay him back, the man started
threatening him.
“He said he would kill me and my children,” the father of three says.
Syed says he then reported the matter to police and Home Affairs.
“I believe this person has contacts in Home Affairs who helps to make
fraudulent documents,” he adds.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirms: “A theft
case was opened on 27 March by the Athlone police and it is still
under investigation with no arrest at this stage.”
The Department of Home Affairs did not respond to queries.
The Daily Voice attempted to contact the alleged scammer on the
number provided, but he did not take the calls and did not respond to
messages.